Fuse support



G. R. BROWN Nov. 7, 1933.

FUSE SUPPORT Filed Nov. 18, 1931 lnventob: George R. BYOWYL Mmm His ttownel.

Patented Nov. 7, 19337 General Electric Com New York Application November I8; 19

Serial No."575,86`9- (Cl. 20o-133) 2 Claims.`

This invention relates to fuse supports, more especially to a type of fuse support which is adapted to be mounted in an outlet box or other receptacle in a wiring system.

An object of my invention is to provide a fuse support which is compact in size and so designed as to be readily accessible for the insertion or removal of fuses and for theconnection of circuits thereto. Another object of my invention is to provide a fuse support which shall consists oi a minimum number of parts of simple construction, easy to assemble and of low cost of manufacture.

What I consider to be novel and my invention will be better understood by reference to the following specification and appended claims when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing.

1n the drawing Fig. 1 is a plan view of the fuse support mounted in an outlet box with the cover removed; Fig. 2 is a side view partly in section of the fuse support mounted in an outlet box with a cover secured in position and Fig. 3 is an end View partly in section of the fuse support, outlet box and cover.

The fuse support includesa fuse block 10 of insulating material on one side of which are mounted a plurality of pairs of fuse-holding clips or contacts 11, 12, 13 and 14. The lower clips are secured to the block 10 by means of rivets 15,r Fig. 3, which are preferably molded into the block as inserts. Rivets 15 also serve to secure a plate 16 to the block which has a portion extending at right angles to the block across the bottom of the lower fuse clips. Plate 16 performs two functions, that is, it connects the lower vclips together and serves as a stop for the fuses inserted in the clips. A conductor is adapted to be connected to the lower clips by means of a terminal 17 which is in the form of a metal strip with a central raised portion to engage the conductor. Terminal 17 is secured to plate 16 by means of two screws 18. The upper clips are securedto block 10 by means of rivets 19. Rivets 19 also serve to secure to the block, plates 20 of insulating material which have portions extending at right angles to the block between the rfuse clips from the top of the block to the top of the lower fuse clips. These plates 20 act as barriers to prevent any spark drawn by the n i removal of one fuse to jump to an adjacent fuse or clip. The opposite ends of rivets v19 are threaded for the reception of binding screws 21. Thus a separate terminal is provided for each of the upper clips to which a conductor may be connected.

Block 10 is secured in an outlet box 33 by means pany, a corporation.` of

of screws 22 which pass through openings 23 in` lugs 24 extending irom the ends of the block. Lugs 24 are located intermediate the top and bottom of block 10 so that a portion of the block extends without the outlet box 33 as best ndi-` 60 cated in Fig. 3. By this arrangement it is possible to connect conductors to the upper clips or change their connections without removing the fuse support from the outlet box. A cover plate 25 is provided and secured in position by means ofV` screws, not shown, whichengage threaded open` ings 26 in blocki. Openings 27 are provided in the cover plate through which fuses may be inserted.

In Fig. -2 four uses 28, 29, 30 and 31 are shown 70 in the pair of clips 11, 12, 13 and 14 respectively. Each fuse is provided with a knob 32 by which it may be inserted in or removed from the clips.

in connecting the fuse support in a wiring system one supply conductor is connected to the .lower inse clips or contacts by means of terminal 17. After the connection of the supply conductor to the lower fuse clips the block 10 may be secured in the outlet box 33 and the upper fuse clips connected tothe conductors of the circuits to be fed by the supply conductor. The other supply conductor and the grounded conductors of earch circuit are connected to a common terminal (not shown) in the box. If preferred, the connections of the conductors to the upper clips may be made before the block l0 is secured in the outlet box. When more than one supply circuit is desired to feed the diii'erent circuits a plurality of fuse supports may be used.

By connecting the supply conductor to the" lower fuse clips a dead front device is provided. That is, when a fuse is not in engagement with a pair of fuse clips the iront or upper clip is dead and one coming in contact with this fuse clip will not receive an electrical shock. This feature) of the nvention'is important because if the upper fuse clips were not dead then when one inserted a fuse in the clips as one ferrule of the fuse engaged the upper clip the fuse would be connected to the supply circuit and if one should touch the other ferrule he would receive a shock.

From the foregoing it may be seen that a fuse support isprovided consisting of a few parts of simple construction. In additionV it is readilyaccessible for the connection of additional cir cuits or for the change of connections of circuits without requiring that it be removed from the outlet box. Also, the dead front feature insures an entirely safe device. K

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In combination, an outlet box, a fuse support mounted therein comprising a block of insulating material, a plurality of pairs of fuse-holding clips mounted on one side of the block, aconducting plate rsecured to the bottom of the bloekvand oonnected to the lower clip of each pair, saidplate providing a stop for fuses inserted in said clips, a terminal for a supply conductor connectd'to said plate, a terminal connected to the upper clip of each pair, and means to support the block' in the outlet box with the last mentioned terminal located outside the outlet 4box.

2. In combination, an outlet box, a fuse support mounted therein comprising a. blockbt insulating material, a plurality o! pairs of Ainsiernected Ito said plate, a terminal connected to the iupperclip of Aeach pair,` barriers of insulating material secured to the block and extending between the pairs of fuse-holding clips from the top o! kthe block substantially to the bottom, means to ,support the block in the outlet box with the last mentioned terminal located outside the outlet hboxxndaacoverriplate secured to the block and `having.'dpenings: for the insertion or removal of fuses.

GEORGE R. BROWN. 

